This text explores Japan’s efforts to automate elder care through the use of robots. Despite significant investment in research and development, care robots have not been widely adopted in care facilities or private homes. The limitations of techno-solutionism and the urgent need to rethink the approach to care are highlighted. The text discusses the challenges posed by Japan’s aging population, including a shortage of care workers and increasing costs of care. It also examines the various types of care robots available and their impact on caregivers. The text concludes by emphasizing the importance of collaboration, care-led approaches, and addressing societal issues in building more caring and equitable societies.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan’s long experiment in automating elder care | From manual care to robotic care | Widespread use of care robots in care facilities | Aging population and shortage of care workers |
| Robear and other care robots have not been widely adopted in Japan | Limited adoption of care robots in care facilities | Increased adoption and normalization of care robots | Techno-solutionism and limitations of care robots |
| Robots tend to create more work for caregivers | Increased workload for caregivers due to care robots | More work for caregivers due to care robots | Limitations of care robots and their maintenance |
| Care robots displace existing social and communication-oriented tasks | Less interaction between caregivers and residents | Reduced scope for social and emotional care | Focus on interacting with robots rather than residents |
| Care robots may lead to the employment of low-skilled workers and consolidation | Increased reliance on low-skilled workers in care facilities | Larger care facilities and standardized care | Cost control and labor shortages |
| Paying care workers more and improving working conditions as alternatives to care robots | Focus on human-led approaches to care | Improved care worker conditions and social support | Valuing people and allocating resources |
| Robear and other care robots have limited practicality and are primarily used for media representation | Limited practical use of care robots | Continued representation of futuristic Japan | Techno-orientalist image of Japan |